Talking Book

This is #day797 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my fourth and final Stevie Wonder record on the list. Now, this isn't exactly the kind of music I'd choose for an October soundtrack, even though the album was ironically released in October. The instrumentation has a very early '70s sound that comes through nicely on vintage gear from the time, like my Technics SU-7300. That said, I guess I prefer his other records on the list, as this album is a bit hit or miss. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day798.

A nice funky album. Two big tubes and the other songs are also quite OK. A 3.5 rounding because why not? Favorite Songs: You Are the Sunshine of My Life ; Superstition

★★★☆☆ This is my third Stevie Wonder album from the 1001 Albums challenge, and while there's some fantastic music here, I found *Talking Book* to be a little inconsistent. The album starts with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” which is a good song, but it feels like a strange choice for an opener. The second track, “Maybe Your Baby,” would've been a much better way to kick things off. That song is fantastic, with a nasty funk groove and some great guitar work. It goes on a little longer than necessary, but it was still an easy 8.5/10 for me. And then there's “Superstition.” What else can you say? One of the greatest funk songs ever recorded. That riff, the horns, the rhythm, Stevie's vocals—everything works. An easy 10/10 and the highlight of the album. Unfortunately, the rest of the record never quite reaches those heights. I enjoy Stevie's ballads, but “You and I” was pretty boring, and several other tracks were pleasant without being particularly memorable. “Tuesday Heartbreak” had a nice groove, “Blame It on the Sun” was a good ballad, and I appreciated the funky ending of “I Believe,” which at least felt like a proper album closer. The sequencing was probably my biggest complaint beyond the inconsistent songwriting. There are some awkward transitions between the funky material and the slower ballads that hurt the overall flow. My individual track ratings averaged 6.6, and I think **6.5/10** is exactly where this belongs. Two outstanding songs, several good ones, and a handful that didn't leave much of an impression. I'm glad I heard it, and there are definitely tracks I'll revisit, but as a complete album it falls a little short of greatness for me.

the most bizarre bit about this is album is that dude plays almost all of the instruments on this album except for the lead guitar stuff, horns, and... the congas?! guy can play the drums but calls in a session conga player?! i truly believe he could have handled the congas on "you are the sunshine of my life". incredible stuff. and the start of an incredible run of albums and singles: talking book, innervisions, fullfillingness' first finale (what a mouth full), songs in the key of life, hotter than july. got damn! if you don't like "superstition" you don't like good stuff.

no thanks…

Lekker muziekje, niks mis mee

It's Stevie Wonder. Easy to love

A few really timeless songs, but many that kind of just fade into the background. A nice listen on the way to the airport in the midst of other life stressors. 3/5

Fav: Superstition, Blame It On The Sun L: You've Got It Bad Girl 3 I liked how each song felt unique (which is something a lot of these albums struggle with), however basically every song felt like they stayed too long. They either needed something more to keep them from dragging or just cut to like 2 min 30 seconds songs. Cover: 3.5 Pretty cool, but imo doesn't really fit the music for the most part. Name: 4 Cool name but also not the name I would fit with this music Minecraft Parody: Obsidian (Superstition)

i think if he spent a little more time on fleshing out the songs instead of 10 repeated choruses it would be an easy 5

This is a classic. Great songs and incredible lyrics.

After 2 5 star Stevie Wonder albums, this one seemed to lack the magic that one gets with the others, it's not as magic or heartfelt, and the songs seemed to drag honestly. Superstition is a banger forever and always, but I couldn't tell you much about the rest of the album. Not unenjoyable, the music his voice keep it good.

7.2/10. I thought it was well made, but it was just too slow for what I like. Stevie is a great musician but the emotional side of his works just tends to make them boring, at least to me. His higher tempo stuff on this album was very enjoyable though, and his messaging is clear throughout.

good

Mistakenly hated on tracks 2-5 for sounding like background music in an elevator. Absolute classics in this album and in between the classics the other songs are uplifted by the smile that remains on your face.

um dos melhores álbuns que já ouvi. stevie wonder é foda pa caraaaaaaai mermão. dale.

For me, even the best Stevie Wonder things are only good. It's more of a taste thing I reckon. An enjoyable album with 2 standout tracks - Superstition and I believe

This was really nice but not his best

Iconic album from one of the great R&B singers.

Relaxed but that hides a great instrumentalist at his creative peak.

If I heard Maybe your Baby in 1972 I would have transcended. Really good album. Lot of slop. But a couple bops.

All gas no brakes

I liked this a lot! So easy to enjoy

Calming energy and takes an interesting journey of love and relationships. Nice voice and I think my favourite song out the album was 'l believe (When I fall in love it will be forever)'.

This is the first of what could be considered as Stevie Wonder's holy trinity of albums, where he developed his work with electronic keyboards, blending soul, funk, pop, jazz and all sorts of other genres. The guys a legend, Superstition is one of the best songs ever written and, although Maybe Your Baby is overlong to the point of irritating, that is the only mis-step in my opinion. The complex arrangements of Blame It On The Sun are beautiful, the love songs You and I and I Believe vary from beautifully simple to lighters-in-the-air anthemic, and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life takes me back to when I was 5 or 6 years old and my mum used to sing it to me. Not quite a perfect album, but not far from it, and I haven't given out a maximum score for weeks, so Stevie can have a low 5 stars for this.

Stevie would reach higher highs later, but it's still very decent.

#470 Superstition is a banger but this is another Stevie Wonder which just confirms that I appreciate him and his music more than I actually like it. You should probably listen to this, no doubt influential but I’d only return for Superstition. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Superstition Rating: 6/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Undoubtedly an insanely talented individual - but sorry Stevie this one wasn’t for me. A fair few skips on this album - songs either going on too long, too love-ballad-y or sounding too similar to other songs on the album. I do not doubt there is probably more Stevie to come on this list (Innervisions, Key of Life) that warrant inclusion more than this one. Even ended up skipping Superstition as I’ve just heard it too many times. 2.5/5 - probably doesn’t need a re-listen.

Positivt overrasket, helt ok å lytte til. Kun 45 min

Enjoyed the funkiness here. Also Superstition is a banger. 4/5

Really compelling, very beautiful lyrics and calming music. All around lovely listen.

⚪️ moderately BANGS but doesn't reach the high highs of "Songs in the Key of Life" or "Innervisions" Fav tracks: I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever), Blame It On the Sun, Superstition

Love. Great singer. I love his voice

The best Stevie Wonder album would be a Greatest Hits album, only one song from Picture Book should be on that album.

Winning Grammys for the two mega hit singles, this album (the second in his classic phase since renegotiating the 'Tamla' contract) was recorded just as he'd supported the Rolling Stones on tour so he was hot at this point. Aside from the aforementioned two huge songs, 'I believe when I fall in love' is a classic, but it in is the lesser known tracks that we hear buried treasure and, aside from maybe your baby being a little long, the use of layered keys/ synths overdubbed on to mostly all Stevie's instruments gives a uniquely influential sound. Helped by A listers like Jeff Beck, Deniece Williams, Ray Parker Jnr and David Sanborn, this is a masterpiece and the best was still yet to come........

Great artist, average album.

Pretty great. I cannot argue with the greatness of this album. I was surprised by how much I liked some of the less well known tracks.

Absolute masterpiece.

Maybe Your Baby = funky as hell Rest also some good funk, sometiles too pop

It's no wonder (no pun intended) that this album earned Stevie his first Grammy. It's a great album and it's hard not to smile listening to "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" or start to dance a little when hearing "Superstition." Loved getting a relisten.

I give too many fives, but this is a delight.

One of the all-time great albums. Stevie hit all the right notes on this one. Plus he didn't put another disc to ruin some of the great vibes here. 5 "like is this perfection" stars.

Yet another monumental record from the great Stevie Wonder. To me, it signifies a great shift in his career, leading to his greatest works in the following years. There is an innate consistency to the record, which is topped off by the anthemic 'Superstition'. 8/10 [KEEP]

it's alright

Superstition is on here which is obviously a 10/10 strong but other than that it doesn’t do it for me. Beautiful craftsmanship with the music and arrangement but no physicality or drive

Stevie do you know you are one of the most influencial and important artists of the 20th century?

Такой душевный альбом, его очень приятно, слушать, на душе становится так легко, но это не такая легкость как на другом альбоме, а с небольшим налётом грусти, очень круто

Я не большой любитель музыки такого жанра, но Стиви Уандер действительно профессионал своего дела, это было приятно слушать. Лучшая песня: You`ve Got It Bad Girl

I was too tired to listen to the whole album properly and fell asleep a couple of times, but the sound of that synth is nasty (in a good way)

The playing, singing, arrangements are all great, but I'd like just a bit more toothy funk like Superstition, and a few less smoooooove ballads.

Killer songs expressing a wide spectrum of emotions.

I was surprised to not know more tracks from this, I felt like it was a little one-note but it was still a vibe Playlist add: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"

Okej album , jag har bara läst två låtar, eller jag antar att den är bra men rätt så långsamma låtar vilket inte är mina favoriter men det kanske växer på mig. Den låten jag giller bäst än så länge är you and I, det är den låten jag har mest fastnat för. You’ve got it bad girl är också en av mina favoriter men jag föredrar you and I . Jag lyssnade dock inte klart på almbumet, kanske två tre låtar, får väl lyssna på dem nån gång

I really liked the funkier numbers, but the slow jams did nothing for me.

It's smooth, it's funky, a little sexy and just overall really nice. Really enjoyed from start to finish 4*

Enjoyed it! Very nostalgic and heard songs I haven’t heard before

Fun

I was expecting a really boring album that sounded repetitive but nope, this album was really good, the instrumentation is amazing, I love it all, the guitars, the synths, the drums, it all sounds so good and interesting in all the songs, not to mention allot of the songs sound very modern for their time

It's good. Superstition being the obvious highlight. Some ok songs mixed in with 2-3 stronger ones. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

Tuesday, 29 September, 2026 Amazing record. Stand out, classic Stevie wonder tracks.

What a beautiful energy. Couldn’t help but enjoy. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Superstition

One or two standout tracks, the rest is a bit drab

3,5 solo por Superstition

should be called Superstition and 9 other songs

Apart from superstition this is actually very boring

Can I just say Stevie is wonderful!? This album is not quite up to the excellence of Songs in the Key of Life, but it is very, very good.

Knew it was great, but it’s exceptional

Good stuff. Smooth groovy listen

Great

I don’t love everything he does, but “Superstition” is such a vibe and I love “I Believe”

Pleasant listen even if I don’t think I frequently crave Stevie’s music. 3/5

Outside of "Superstition", the album mostly alternates between overly cheesy songs and songs with mild funk elements which could be interesting if the lyrics weren't so repetitive. 1.5/5

This was surprisingly bad for Stevie Wonder. Superstition saved it, that song on its own is too good to give a lower rating.

The second of a streak that has never been surpassed by an individual artist. Even if you leave out “You are the Sunshine” this is an untouchable album. “Maybe your Baby” the funk is strong here.” “You and I” a beautiful love song. “Tuesday Heartbreak” funky and when you listen to ha organ, just amazing. “You got it Bad Girl” just try to stay with any one instrument and not get distracted by the others. Then of course a funk classic “Superstitious” with the horns shifting smoothly to “Big Brother” keeps the theme but narrows it to politics. Distance doesn’t fade understanding. “Then then the beautiful “Blame it on the Sun” where forgiveness is just transference. “Lookin’ for another Pure Love” the first of two songs of hope and possible redemption. Ending with “I believe when I fall in Love” The middle shift to funk “Come on…” is so in line with the dream. It’s one of my top ten albums of all time. The guitar play in the background between Jeff Beck and Buzzy Fenton with Beck’s near perfect solo is at the top of guitar duos of all time.

Damn that SLAPPED, might be my new fave stevie wonder album, like it more than innervisions but maybe its on par with key of life. Standouts are sunshine, maybe your baby, you and i, superstition, blame it on the sun and pure love.

More chilled & less funky than some of his later stuff

The album opens with "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," a true soul classic. The first track on Side 2 is the well-known "Superstition," a number-one hit from 1972. In between and afterwards, there is a lot of shrieking, dreadful keyboard interludes, and some soulful R&B. All in all, this album is not my kind of music.

Two bangers does not a good album make

I love Stevie Wonder so much that this was one of the records that I already had a very hard opinion on before starting this list and although it is a album I love it just misses that perfect or five star rating for me. I love the sweetness of the ballads and the groove and heavier tracks like superstition and maybe your baby, but as a whole LP there is something that is stopping me from giving it that 5 and it kinda stings a bit. Fav tracks: Sunshine of my life, Maybe your baby, Tuesday heartbreak, Superstition, Blame it on the sun, and Looking for another pure love

Not really my cup of tea. Some good songs, but a bit gooey for me.

FAVOURITE: Superstition / I Believe / Big Brother LEAST FAVOURITE: You've Got It Bad Girl (but this is still an 8/10 song for me)

Big fan!

honestly, I didn't like it that much. Am I crazy or-?

A very good and heartwarming album. The lyrics grasp at what it means to be human and part of the world we live in. It captures the love, the sadness, the longing, and the comfort we find in each other and the ones we're close to. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album and was genuinely surprised when "Superstition" began playing! An easy 7/10. It gave me exactly what I wanted but didn't give me anything more substantial than what I expected.

Ok.

Stevie can do better than this.

This album is still fantastic.

Sure, it has Superstition, but nothing else here is in the same vibe or league as that Hence just 2 stars

Pretty sure this was the album that a dear friend convinced me that, if I’d only give Stevie a chance, I would really like him. One of my favorite artists many decades, albums, and changing styles later.

discaso

the book has to talk, because stevie wonder is blind

Never listened to a stevie wonder album before excited to for the first time. Really good album

Great, great fucking album.

Favourite songs: Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition

Lively and nice

I didn't really understand what was special about this album. I liked the songs Maybe Your Baby and I Believe. Calm melodic sound

I owned this CD growing up, but only ever really listened to the song "Superstition." Man, this whole album is a banger....I truly was missing out. "Blame it on the Sun" is great, "I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever)" is great..."Superstition" is still great. Also gets even better when you focus on the rhythm and realize that Stevie Wonder is a badass drummer. Great Album.

interesting, but not my favourite. never listend to stevie wonder before.

he always hits. need to listen again and make it a staple of my music rotation

An obscenely fertile period from this genius. Maybe my second favorite in this run but the differential between 2-5 is microscopic. Whatever. 5 stars across the board. When I listen to Stevie I sometimes wonder (unintentional) if I need to listen to anything else.